Dairy Department

Entry Deadline:      June 1^st

         Pre Fair set up dates: Thursday, Aug. 2 and Thursday, Aug. 9 @ 6:30 p.m.

Buy (lease) a calf, (heifer, cow) from a GOOD quality dairy herd.  (Do NOT buy from sale barn), as this way all health and I.D. information will be available.  Remember, calves grow faster than youngsters.  Keep this in mind when obtaining your animal.

All animals are required to have Official MDA Electronic Identification tag number listed on the entry form.  If this is pending at time of registration, you must call the Fair Office before July 19th with that number.  This must be an RFID tag which has been put in the left ear.  To obtain tags please call: 1-800-292-3939 or www.michigan.gov/mda

The week before fair there will be a barn setup and cleaning.  All dairy exhibitors are asked to attend.  Stall assignments are given at this time.

Entry Day: Health Check/Weigh in starts at 6:00 am to Noon.  If dairy is the only animal you have on your trailer, you may proceed from Gate 3 (Shawnee Rd.) to the dairy barn for Health check.  If you have others, you have to go through Health Check at Gate 3.

After animal is taken care of in barn, you must go to entry office before 2:00 pm to take care of paperwork.  Now you are done with entry.

Fair week: Pitchfork, shovel and a tackbox (lockable) are the main items to bring to fair.  Exhibitors are expected to clean out their stalling area every morning of manure, and if their cattle are dirty to take them out and wash them.  Usually cattle need to be hosed clean every morning.  We ask that all wheel barrows be emptied out when full and to keep the walk ways raked clean.  We like to have all barns and cattle cleaned by 10:00 am.

All cattle should be fed and watered before you leave at night.  Any exhibitor failing to keep their stall clean will fall under the 3 Strike Rule (see page 12 of fairbook).

Dairy will be released at 11:30 Saturday evening of fair.  Premium checks may be picked up on Saturday of fair from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Entry Office or on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  They can also be cashed at either time.